The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-20

rThe following letter so charming in description
and so full of interest was written oy MT James a.;
was not intended for publication, but with the con-
sent of the receiver ii is inserted in the ADVOCATE,
because it is worthy of wide circulation, ana no
doubt will be enjoyed by our readers
OMAHA NEB 18th August 1887.
DEAR FRIENDS A narrative of the marvellous
growth OF this western metropolis, the steady flow
tate over night by many accidental squatters. is
present rush and turmoil of business and the still
opening vstas of its commercial greatness, wonld
ead like chapter from the Arabian Nights. Yet
believe the widest dreamer could scarcely outdo
The plain unvarnished truth. In 1850 1t was viii
iaee smaller and less preentious than New Windsor.
Now it numbers a round hundred thousand lnhaDi-
tants and seems but in its infancy yet. The banks
and business blocks built half score OF years ago,
spacious and substantial as they are, no longer
meet the requirements, and are giving way 10
others more massive and elegant. The public
Iuiidines are really magnificent and the private
residences of the wealthier class are IN scope
and refreshingly original in style Few Eastern
cities of equal Size have more of the eleganctes 81
modern life, The court house, an Imposing stFuo
lure of gray sand stone crowns lofty terrace cover
ing an entire square in the heart of the CITY, and is
reached by flight of 81 granite stepsat each corner;
20 steps more lead TO the porch OF the main story
The principal public school house is very modern
call Baltimore brick. Rows on rows or the mos
costly business blocks are going up i've, six AID
seven stories high, and al are rented already.
respects could not do without breathing spQ for
its weary workers. Fiftyseyen acres on tne eSge OF
so% vem as pure Of is kind as is often found Moth
sing has been attempted for IL yet in the wayof ari
AcIal adornment, and the lovers OF natqk almost
hoSse nothing will be- the danger Of marrg seems
~ hmsTSSh greater than the chance OF meNing it.
vailed Nit yesterday. and remarked VI grocer on
~. w. aornar Syhen ! came out, ~ our hrk has no
tne corner ~, i; We don't sit down in theNorthwestS
ne replied In his store | met getleman from
Los Angeles had narse5 him je n sbd
hood and Tho 1,hes,Speake, which he had never
seen II gave me strafage sensann % realize that
still fnrther and vel we we've FLOW countrymen.
No idea can be formed Of the greatness Of our
country without journey through portion or
But the great Northwest Is not all cilles- An al
most ininitesimal part of Il is immGed In busy
marts Our jaunt hitler via the Chicago. burling-
ton and Quincy railroad across northern Mnois
of my life The route elegant in cars, excellent in
service solid in road bed and all that can be desir-
through a veritahle garden. The long drought has
made vegetation look withersd; there is wearying
monotony Of dsad level anq cor n ag
with Ohio and Indiana. Yet Notwithstanding all
this there interest and pleasure in the landscape
There are bold bluffs and sequestered wales, here
and there relieved BY belts OF beautiful woodland
and silveryeined with streams, and even ranges OF
hills as we approach the Missouri: and the very sue
aession Of prairie grass and corn awakens specula
ton by their Unreasonable extent. Ihlnk OF
corn field mile square, succeeded by another, ana
ants they promise TO stretch out until the crack OF
dooml r,.. - i,
We crossed the MISSISSIPPI .O"as "
moonlight. We got but glimpse of the city, half
splendid with electric light half hid in the intenser
Shadows therefrom, but saw enough to assure US
that She is of usty growth and vitality resting nall
fretfully in the arm of 1.-THE Father OF Waters
which bends around her tendeFly, The current is
sluggish in marked contrast with that OF the Mis-,
souri, whose haste here where the water IS low and
the channel is level, easily suggests what Parkman
has called The most beautiful confluence OF waters
in the world, where the tawny missouri rushes
upon the stately Mississippi, dragging her like
conqueror to the sea.
one naturally wonders whence the people come
who I'll up the West rapidly. A little sauntering or
loafing about will explain it. The major part seem
to be foreigners. Every cline and tongue Is rep
resented. i have been waited on in this hotel by
Negro an Italian, a Russian; have made purchases
Of German, Jew and Chinaman, and have been
shaved by a fullhred Indian In tlfslolgss barber
shop. The case and harmony with winch Iney
coatesce and work together Is also marvel 10 tne
reflective mind nothing in the history OF the worlo
Within the memory of men now living an OF tne
soil of these western cities, now rooied IN az New
York prices and OF the farms which make many
States great was the virgin prairie, the primeval
solitude Of 1.-THE New Purchase SO belitted and
ridiculed by Jefferson's opponents II mas been an
ASYLUM for the poor of the world, who nave come
and fed upon ii, and in turn enriched IT. Here Is
seems TO be the great charity Of God 70 the hunan
4 truce to moralizingI I leave tomorrow, for
Washington Kansas, 10 go in few days from there
to Kansas City Missouri. shall return 70 Logans-
Is soon as can, for in spite Of all the enjoyment o.
travel, begin to turn with longing lot Ine scenes
A''s @'-N''''"''Os JAMES A. DIFFESRAUGH